Every October and November, paddy stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh adds to North India's air pollution. This explainer covers why it happens, its health and soil impact, the CAQM's 2026 elimination directions, and in-situ and ex-situ alternatives.
Stubble burning is the practice of setting fire to crop residue left in fields after harvest. In North India, it peaks between late September and November, when farmers clear paddy straw to sow wheat quickly. The smoke, combined with calm winds, falling temperatures and local emissions, contributes to severe air pollution across Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).
Why Farmers Burn Paddy Stubble
- A narrow sowing window: Paddy is harvested in October, and wheat ideally needs to be sown by mid-November for good yields. That leaves only two to three weeks.
- Combine harvesters: Mechanical harvesting leaves tall stalks that are hard to plough in.
- Cost and labour: Removing or managing straw requires machinery, fuel and labour, which small and marginal farmers struggle to afford.
- Low value of paddy straw: Unlike wheat straw, paddy straw is high in silica and less useful as fodder.
- Groundwater rules: Punjab's rules delaying paddy transplanting to protect groundwater pushed harvests later, squeezing the gap before wheat sowing.
Health and Environmental Impact
- Air pollution: Burning releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, methane, volatile organic compounds and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Health: Exposure worsens asthma, bronchitis and heart disease, and affects children and elderly people most.
- Soil damage: Fire destroys soil organic carbon, beneficial microbes and nutrients, and raises soil temperature.
- Climate: Residue burning emits greenhouse gases and black carbon.
The share of stubble smoke in Delhi's pollution varies sharply day to day depending on wind direction and fire counts; on some days it is small, while on peak days it can be significant. Vehicles, industry, construction dust and waste burning remain major year-round sources.
The Regulatory Framework
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), established under the CAQM Act, 2021, coordinates action across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.
In Direction No. 99, dated May 15, 2026, CAQM ordered Punjab, Haryana and the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh to implement state action plans aimed at the complete elimination of paddy stubble burning during the 2026 season, and asked Delhi and Rajasthan to intensify preventive efforts. Satellite monitoring follows a standard ISRO–IARI protocol for counting fire events.
Punjab's 2026 action plan includes district-level monitoring by Deputy Commissioners and senior police officers, a ban on the long-duration PUSA-44 paddy variety, promotion of shorter-duration varieties such as PR-126, and targets to divert paddy area to maize.
Solutions: In-Situ and Ex-Situ Management
In-Situ (In the Field)
- Happy Seeder and Super Seeder: Sow wheat directly into standing stubble.
- Mulchers and reversible ploughs: Chop and incorporate residue into soil.
- Bio-decomposers: Microbial sprays such as IARI's PUSA decomposer speed up breakdown, though results depend on moisture and time available.
Ex-Situ (Outside the Field)
- Biomass power plants and compressed biogas (CBG) units.
- Co-firing in thermal power plants, where pellets from paddy straw replace part of the coal.
- Industrial boilers using straw as fuel.
- Packaging, board and bio-product industries.
Balers and rakes collect straw, but storage, transport and assured buyers remain bottlenecks.
Why Progress Has Been Uneven
- Machinery subsidies helped, but machines are often unavailable at peak time or too costly to run.
- Ex-situ demand is growing but does not yet absorb all straw.
- Penalties alone create resentment without viable alternatives.
- Crop diversification away from water-intensive paddy requires assured procurement for alternative crops.
Key Facts
- Stubble burning peaks from late September to November.
- CAQM's 2026 direction targets complete elimination in Punjab, Haryana and NCR districts of UP.
- Short-duration varieties widen the window for wheat sowing.
- Both in-field incorporation and industrial use of straw are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stubble burning illegal?
Yes. It is prohibited under air pollution laws and state orders, and CAQM directions add enforcement requirements. Farmers can face environmental compensation charges.
Is stubble burning the main cause of Delhi's pollution?
It is a major seasonal contributor on some days, but local sources such as vehicles, industry and dust contribute throughout the year.
What can farmers use instead of burning?
Happy Seeders, Super Seeders, mulchers, bio-decomposers, or selling baled straw to biomass, CBG and power plants.
Conclusion
Ending stubble burning needs practical options more than prohibitions: shorter-duration varieties, timely machinery, reliable buyers for straw and crop diversification. The 2026 season will test whether stronger plans translate into fewer fires on the ground.
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